Russia and Ukraine are trading accusations of breaking their two very different versions of proposed ceasefire this morning as we get closer to the Victory Day parade in Moscow, with the Kremlin reportedly worrying about a potential Ukrainian strike.
A man in military uniform checks his mobile phone in Moscow, Russia. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesUkraine suggested an indefinite ceasefire earlier this week, which was repeatedly violated by Russia. After another round of attacks over night, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said:
“All of this clearly shows that, on the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front. As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well. We will defend our positions and people’s lives.”
Russia, which wanted a shorter artificial ceasefire to protect the parade to which Kyiv never agreed, said it would be responding to any Ukrainian attacks “symmetrically.”
As my colleague Pjotr Sauer noted earlier this week, Victory Day has been central to Vladimir Putin’s vision of Russian identity throughout his more than 25 years in power. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has intensified its use of the annual celebration, with Putin deploying the occasion to frame and justify the current war.
Read moreLet’s see how the next few hours shape up as we get closer to the celebration. I will also bring you more on the (very short) guest list for the event.
Elsewhere, we will follow US secretary of state Marco Rubio’s meeting with Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni, track the preparations for Péter Magyar’s inauguration in Hungary tomorrow, and see how are things on board of the hantavirus-hit cruise.
It’s Friday, 8 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
